Meet the XM7 Rifle: There has always been grumbling among U.S. Army soldiers about the 5.56 mm round fired by the M4 carbine. These critics believe the cartridge does not have the penetrating power to counteract enemy body armor and other types of protection that adversarial combatants use.
Now the Army has listened and has developed a new rifle with more powerful ammunition with greater range and stopping power.
The XM7 rifle will eventually replace the M4 carbine that has been ubiquitous in the U.S. Army since the late 1990s.
I qualified on the M4 in the summer of 2001 before 9/11 and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
This was before all of the add-on sights and red dot optics for the rifle emerged, and I used iron sights at the range that day.
Later, the Close Combat Optic would be added to infantry units that used the M4 which took advantage of the weapon’s rail system.
Next Generation Squad Weapons Program Spawned the XM7
The XM7 was developed under the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) Program to replace the 5.56 x 45 mm NATO round used by the M4 and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW).
Sig Sauer won a ten-year contract to produce the XM7 rifle and the XM250 light machine gun.
“The XM7 is based on the gas-operated, magazine-fed SIG MCX-Spear, and it notably chambers the newer 6.8 x 51 mm Common Cartridge, which provides both a greater range and lethality; it has an effective range of 600 meters, which is twice that of the 5.56 mm NATO,” according to WarHistoryOnline.com.
Easy to Accessorize
The XM7 can be shot by both right-handed and left-handed shooters much easier than the M4. The modular design with the M-LOK handguard allows personnel to handily accessorize the weapon with sights, red dot optics, and suppressors. Selectors can be used for different firing modes.
The XM7 should help friendly forces engage the enemy in combat better.
It has improved accuracy, penetrating power, and range. The weapon is easy to zero and allows new shooters to have a simple design for loading and unloading the rifle.
Soldiers from the Screaming Eagles Give It Good Marks
Personnel began testing the XM7 in the field in 2024. Soldiers from the Army’s 101st Airborne Division prefer its versatility and reliability. Many of the grunts like its comfort during firing and extended range. The XM7 has endured 25,000 hours of testing. The rounds can penetrate through iron plates and cinder blocks.
However, the XM7 is heavier – around two pounds more than the M4. The recoil is different than the M4 with detractors thinking that it has a heavier shoulder kick. Also, a magazine full of 6.8 mm rounds also weighs more than a similar one used with M4s.
Not All Troops Will Use It at First
Like the M4, the XM7 will first be assigned to special operations forces and infantry and if that goes well, it could later be given to other types of frontline troops such as combat medics and cavalry scouts. The Army wants to buy 111,000 XM7s.
It’s about time this happened, and I wish I could have used the XM7 while I was in the Army. I never liked the M4 due to its short stature that had a different recoil. I could never get used to its size and preferred a longer barreled weapon like the M16A2.
The M4 Is Older Than You Think
The M4 has outlived its usefulness. While it became popular in the late 1990s, a similar version was used during the Vietnam War. Known as the CAR-15, this carbine was favored by the Army Special Forces and Long-range Reconnaissance Patrols who made difficult trips in jungle terrain.
However, the CAR-15 still used the 5.56 mm round that had trouble penetrating jungle-foliage and bringing down Viet Cong or North Vietnam Army troops.
Today’s soldiers will have to adapt to the heaviness of the XM7, but they should be satisfied once they make the transition from the M4. After long periods of use, many users may not even miss the M4. I know I won’t.
The new cartridge is powerful, and the 600-meter effective range is just what the Army needs for its special operators and grunts.
Let’s hope the XM7 and XM250 has a long service life and is able to engage the enemy better than the M4 and the M249.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
